Earlier this morning, Mayor Bass stood with other state officials in front of the L.A. Memorial Coliseum to address the city’s efforts to prepare public transportation ahead of the 2028 Olympics.
Mayor Bass: This nearly $900,000,000 in federal funding that is coming to the region to expand the L.A. Metro rail system ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic games will be vital for our success.
Mayor Bass says she looks forward to more accessibility and easier travel for L.A. Metro’s current and future riders.
She also expressed gratitude toward the Biden-Harris administration for pushing through a congressional spending package.
$709.9 million will go toward two L.A. Metro projects - the East San Fernando Valley Light Rail and part of the Purple Line Subway Extension.
$160 million in new federal grant funding is designed to increase access for underserved communities.
Senator Alex Padilla emphasized that this change was not being made just for the Olympics.
Senator Padilla: The people of Los Angeles will see the benefits before, during and after the Olympics. But we truly do have a responsibility not just to make the games themselves run smooth, but to ensure these important investments in communities that have been here for a long time will continue to be here for a long time, especially those communities that have historically been left out and overlooked when it comes to significant infrastructure investments.
Holly Mitchell, member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, said she was thrilled to see the funding go towards the communities that need it.
Mitchell: Some investments will go to the cities of Inglewood, the last mile connection, some pedestrian safety projects, some bike safety projects, in South L.A. around the USC Expo Park area, and some additional resources for the city of Carson.
13 members of the California Delegation signed the letter supporting the project.
15,000 competitors and millions of spectators are expected to attend the L.A. Olympics.